Press release

Russia remains as the only unbeaten team

Russia is the only unbeaten team of the tournament

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 7, 2011 – Russia came from behind to remain as the only unbeaten team so far in FIVB Men´s Junior World Championship by outdueling the United States 3-2 (19-25, 27-29, 25-21, 25-17, 15-13) in the last match of Pool E of the second round at Maracanazinho Gymnasium in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday.

With the win, the Russian managed to end the second round in the first place of the group, with eight points, and now wait the decision of the second place team of Pool F between hosts Brazil or Serbia, to know the opponent in Tuesday's semifinal.

Second placed United States will face Argentina, which won Pool F. Third and fourth placed in the group, Iran and Spain will play 5th to 8th matches against India and Brazil or Serbia.

Russian outside hitter Leonid Sshchadilov scored impressive 24 points to be the top scorer of the match. He was helped by Bogdan Glivenko, who scored 14, and Igor Filippov who contributed 12. Most of American points were split between Taylor Sander (20), Taylor Crabb (19), Maurice Torres (17) and Dylan Davis (11).

The USA took an early lead but Russia reversed the score to 11-9, when American head coach John Hawks IV stopped the match. After the break, the American returned better and, taking advantage of Russia mistakes, built a slight margin of 17-16 with a serve point by setter Micah Christenson. With Sander and Torres extremely efficient in the end of the frame, the USA improved its lead until closing it 25-19 with Christenson stopping Shchadilov.

Russia achieved a small advantage in the beginning of the second partial, but the USA reversed it and went to the second technical timeout 16-13 with a serve point of Sander. Following two good serves of Andrey Kolesnik, the European tied the frame in the 16th point with Shchadilov. With a good performance of captain Crabb, the Americans escaped again by four points at 21-17 and got close of the win with a 24-21 lead. Russia reacted and tied the match, but a block point of Crabb decided it to the American side 29-27.

The bad performance in the previous sets motivated Russia to play better in the third frame and, using its powerful block, the Europeans put the score 7-4. With Crabb in the line, American served to reduce it 12-11. Using the same weapon, Russian Alexey Pluzhnikov served to score 14-11 to his side, but American Davis blocked to tie it 14-14. Russian took the control of the set again and closed 25-21 with other powerful serve of Pluzhnikov.

The victory put Russia back in the match and the Europeans scored 9-7 with Filippov dominating the net. With Shchadilov spiking from the backcourt, the Russian reached 15-10. Joshua Taylor led American reaction and the USA approached in 15-13, but Russia escaped to score 21-15 with Valentine Krotkov. In the end, Filippov closed the frame 25-17.

Fifth set had a balanced start, with Sander leading the American and Glivenko as Russia's prominent player. When the Russian scored 11-10, American called for a timeout. With two points in a row, the European got closer of the win, but the American side reduced it to 13-12 with a serve point of Torres. In the end, Glivenko spiked to assure Russian 15-13 win.